Reconciliation – Victorian legal profession shows the way

A forum in Melbourne tomorrow will hear that the growing relationships between Aboriginal communities and key Victorian law firms and organisations are resulting in improved access to legal advice for the Aboriginal community and outcomes for Indigenous law students, and lawyers.

Hosted by the Tarwirri–Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers Association of Victoria, Reconciliation Australia and Reconciliation Victoria, Indigenous Reconciliation Initiatives within the Victorian Legal Profession: Who, what, how is part of the Victoria Law Foundation’s official Law Week program for 2013.

According to Tarwirri President, Karly Warner, the Victorian legal profession is leading the way in demonstrating how meaningful and practical reconciliation can be enhanced through legal initiatives, which include some nationally significant pro bono cases undertaken by Melbourne law firms and the development of employment and professional development opportunities for Indigenous law students and lawyers.

“Tarwirri has seen a range of Government and private sector organisations increase their acknowledgment of individual and cultural identity. The development of real and rewarding opportunities aids the Indigenous community to prove their contribution to organizations is invaluable. The ongoing effectiveness and strength of these initiatives depends on the value we place on cultural and individual difference in the legal profession and in the community at large.””

Reconciliation Australia CEO, Leah Armstrong, said her organisation is proud that a key initiative, the Reconciliation Action Plan program, has been able to assist in the burgeoning partnerships between Victorian law firms and Aboriginal communities across Australia.

“There is a huge body of historical evidence about the lack of justice received by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian legal system so the work of reconciliation and relationship building in the legal profession is especially critical,” said Ms Armstrong.

“Our program has assisted some of Victoria’s biggest law firms and law associations including Arnold Bloch Leibler, Allens and the Victorian Bar to develop RAPs and provide critical pro bono services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and in some cases improved employment opportunities for young Koori graduates.”

According to David Pleydell, co-chair of Arnold Bloch Leibler’s Reconciliation Action Plan working group, the RAP programme has added a broader structure to complement the longstanding relationships with and commitment to Indigenous communities that the firm has been honoured to develop over the past two decades.

Reconciliation Victoria’s Erin McKinnon said the impacts of reconciliation in action in Victoria’s legal community could be seen in the success of the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement and Koori Courts in improving justice outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. “These initiatives show the powerful potential of meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal people. Similarly a number of law firms in Victoria have demonstrated a commitment to working with and learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” said Erin McKinnon.

“It is encouraging to see the growing number of firms recognising the valuable contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ including legal professionals make to their organisations and to the wider community”.

Guest speakers at tomorrow’s forum include representatives from Reconciliation Victoria, Judicial Officers Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Committee, Tarwirri, Victorian Bar, Law Institute Victoria, Legal Profession Reconciliation Network and a number of top-tier law firms.

Event details are as follows:

Date: Friday 17 May, 2013
Time: 12:30pm – 2:00pm
Venue: Lander & Rogers Lawyers – Level 12, 600 Bourke Street, Melbourne

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Paul House with gum leaves and smoke
Paul Girrawah House

Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.  

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

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